Sri Lanka to Concentrate More on Value Addition of Spices Through Research and New Technologies

Sri Lanka should focus on increasing the income from spice product export through value addition rather than exporting raw spices, says Minister Daya Gamage, Minister of Primary Industries in Sri Lanka. He expressed this views in a recent press conference held in Kandy to announce the 45th Annual Session of the International Pepper Community which is planned to be held in Kandy, Sri Lanka on October this year.

He further added, “Sri Lankan pepper is normally priced at a higher level than pepper from other countries, and it’s a big “plus” fro the Sri Lankan pepper industry. But we have to concentrate more on value addition of pepper and other spices we export so that we can get even better prices for Sri Lankan spices. So the ministry of Primary Industries has taken steps to strengthen research and new technology adaptation on value addition of Sri Lankan Spices.”

Minister Daya Gamage Speaking at the press conference

The 45th Annual Sessions of the International pepper community will be held from October 30th to September 2nd in Kandy with the participation of member countries and also guests from 25 other countries.

The International Pepper Community(IPC) is an intergovernmental organization of pepper producing countries. The Community now includes Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam as permanent members and Papua New Guinea as an associate member.

The IPC was established in 1972 under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP). The IPC Secretariat is located in Jakarta, Indonesia and is headed by an executive director.